Can You Freeze Baked Beans?

It’s the season of BBQs and summer cookouts, and that means ribs and steaks with classic sides like macaroni and cheese or baked beans. Baked beans are a crowd favorite and easy to make in large quantities, which probably means you’ll be making a lot and have some leftovers. It’s better to have too much food than too little when entertaining, but what do we do with the remaining food when everyone goes home? Can you freeze baked beans?

Can You Freeze Baked Beans?

Freezing baked beans is a great way to maintain that fresh and saucy flavor, and baked beans freeze beautifully. “The saucy beans are protected from freezer-burn and other issues because they freeze into a solid block, in their own juices. They will get a little bit softer, however, so don’t overcook your beans or they may get mushy,” said Brian Murphy.

Freezing Guidelines For Baked Beans

As with freezing any other food, the method that we freeze baked beans will impact the quality, freshness, and flavor of that food when it’s time to thaw and reheat it.

• Cool before freezing: When freezing baked beans, the best course of action is to cool the dish before freezing it. “We want our food to go from hot to cold, without spending much time in the ‘danger zone’ between 40-140 degrees Fahrenheit, ideal conditions for bacteria to multiply,” said Murphy.
• Cooking before freezing: When cooking those baked beans before freezing, it is important to remember that heavy pots and pans retain heat, and cool slowly. “Transfer the hot beans from their cooking vessel to a clean, open bowl or container that will dissipate heat faster,” said Murphy. When doing this, something like a wide stainless-steel bowl would be a good choice.
• Stir before cooling: It’s a good idea, too, to give those baked beans a stir before cooling. This will help to redistribute that sweet and savory sauce and keep the beans from drying out. “Beans are happiest nestled in their sauce, so use a spoon to push down any beans mounted above the surface, to keep them from drying out,” said Murphy. This will also keep the dish well mixed because fats and oils naturally rise to the surface. Keeping everything well mixed is an important part of the cooling process that also will help to maintain flavor and the consistency of the dish.
• Let them chill: Once the baked beans have chilled in the fridge for a bit, it’s time to prepare them for freezing. “Once your beans have cooled enough that they’re no longer steaming, transfer them to your freezer-safe food storage containers, and continue to chill in the fridge, uncovered,” said Murphy.
• Proper storage: If you want to speed up the process, use shallow containers as they tend to freeze faster than deep ones. “Freezer storage bags or vacuum sealer bags work great and are easy to thaw,” said Murphy.  But any plastic food storage containers should work. It’s also important to leave a bit of room in the container as the liquid in the baked beans will expand when they freeze.
• Think before you thaw: It can save time and avoid waste down the line too to take some time to consider how much you will want to thaw at a time and then be sure to freeze appropriately sized portions. “Ideally you should freeze once, thaw once. Repeated thawing and freezing can negatively affect the texture of your beans and create potential food safety issues,” said Murphy.
• Wait to seal: Place your beans in the freezer, with enough room around them so the cold air can circulate and freeze your beans quickly. When the beans are totally frozen, then you can put the lids on  the containers. (Uncovered containers freeze faster, and won’t get frosty.) 

How Long Do Frozen Baked Beans Last?

When freezing baked beans, you’ll have them safe and ready to thaw on demand for several months – that means your leftovers from your summer barbecue could be used as part of Thanksgiving dinner, if you are so inclined. “Frozen baked beans can be stored for up to six months. However, after three months, you may begin experiencing a loss in flavor,” said Brian Jupiter.  For the best texture and flavor, eat within the first three months of freezing.

How To Thaw And Reheat Frozen Baked Beans

• Thawing: When you are ready to thaw the baked beans and enjoy them, all that’s needed is to take one of the portioned frozen containers and leave them in the refrigerator overnight. “This will preserve the integrity of the beans without introducing too much heat all at once,” said Jupiter, who said that another option is to submerge the sealed beans in a bowl of cold water. “The higher water temperature will slowly bring the baked beans from frozen to defrosted,” said Jupiter.
• Quick Thaw: In a pinch, use the defrost setting on the microwave and make sure to check the beans every few minutes to ensure you do not overheat them.  “To reheat thawed baked beans, use either an oven (300°F - 350°F) or a microwave. If using a microwave, heat in increments of 30 seconds and stir between times so they are heated evenly,” said Jupiter.

Quality Considerations

• Ice crystals: When freezing foods, tiny ice crystals form. “These act almost like little knives, breaking cell walls in the beans,” said Murphy. This process can softens the beans a bit, which will change the texture down the line when you are ready to thaw. But the faster food is frozen, the less time ice crystals have to grow. “This is why we chill the beans below 40 degrees before putting them in the freezer. It’s also why we like smaller, shallower containers, because they freeze fastest,” said Murphy. 
• Defrosting: However, when it comes time to defrost, a gentle thaw will be a good way to maintain that texture better. “Those ice crystals melt slowly and reintegrate into the food. A quick thaw quickly can cause the ice crystals to melt faster than the food can absorb the water, and results in pockets of separated water, and a mushier texture,” said Murphy.
• Reheating: Beans will soften slightly in the freezing and reheating process, so make sure not to overcook your beans when reheating. You’ll want them to be firm and cooked and no hard sections. But you may want to add a bit of kick while you’re at it:  “Flavors tend to mellow a bit over time in the freezer, especially spices. This effect is subtle, but maybe be a little bolder with your pinch of spice,” said Murphy. 

Alternative Storage Methods

If you aren’t up for freezing, there’s always just a quick toss in the fridge – this is great if you’ll be using the baked beans again soon. Baked beans can be stored in a tightly sealed container in the refrigerator for up to four days.